161 FAMILIAIi GARDEN FLOJFEIiS. 



heath was eminently fashionable, and Mr. Fairbairn, of 

 Clapham^ used to exhibit enormous specimens in a won- 

 drous state of health and beauty. But even in these 

 degenerate days we occasionally see it in perfect trim as a 

 specimen plant, among the most successful cultivators of 

 recent years being Mr. Thomas Baines, formerly of Bowdon, 

 and Messrs. Cole, of Withington. At the present time 

 among the ablest men in handling the plant are Sir. 

 Cypher, of Cheltenham, and Mr. Tudgey, of Waltham. 



Between the growing of gigantic specimens, and the 

 neat little plants that suit an amateur^s greenhouse, there 

 is considerable difference. A collection of heaths may be 

 formed and kept at little expense, and to speak the truth 

 about them, they are very easy to grow, and also very 

 easy to kill ; and the failures that occur usually represent a 

 waste of delicate attentions. When housed with Ijedding 

 plants and kept warm and close all the winter, and liberally 

 and frequently watered, they die and do not come to 

 life again. They belong to the more breezy and Ijraeing 

 climates of the Cape, and in cultivation require free venti- 

 lation, very moderate allowances of water, abundance of 

 light, and to be guarded against all extremes of heat, cold, 

 drought, and humidity. The men who succeed best with 

 heaths group them in airy spacious houses with other 

 plants of like character, such as hedaromas and epacrises, 

 and other " hard-wooded plants." But a considerable 

 proportion of the Cape heaths are so nearly hardy that, 

 with ordinary care, a brick pit without any tire-heat will 

 suffice for their safe wintering . The great point is to 

 protect them from damp, towards effecting which perfect 

 cleanliness and systematic ventilation will contribute in 

 the most direct manner. 



